Gabriel Acevero
Gabriel Acevero | |
---|---|
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 39th district | |
Assumed office January 9, 2019 Serving with Lesley Lopez, W. Gregory Wims | |
Preceded by | Shane Robinson |
Personal details | |
Born | San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago | October 23, 1990
Political party | Democratic |
Other political affiliations | Democratic Socialists of America |
Education | Montgomery College (AA) University of Maryland, Baltimore County (BA) |
Website | gabeacevero |
Gabriel Acevero (born October 23, 1990) is a Trinidadian–American organizer, activist and politician representing
Early life, education, and career
Acevero was born on October 23, 1990, in
Acevero worked as an issue organizer after college, first on the successful Question 4 (
A
Acevero joined the Maryland Fight for $15 campaign and organized low wage workers and community groups to support raising the minimum wage in Montgomery County. The County Council overwhelmingly approved the bill and it was signed into law in 2017.[8]
In December 2017, Acevero was among a group of activists, labor leaders, clergy and lawmakers who were arrested on the steps of Capitol Hill for engaging in unlawful demonstration. The group was hoping to pressure Congress to include legislation for undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children (known as DREAMers).
He was also behind the push that led to the renaming of a
Maryland Legislature
Acevero ran in the three-member house district which includes parts of Gaithersburg, Germantown, Clarksburg, Montgomery Village, and Washington Grove. He won the Democratic primary on June 26, 2018, besting three-term incumbent Delegate Kirill Reznik and two-term incumbent, Delegate Shane Robinson in the hotly contested primary. He faced nominal Republican opposition in the general and was elected on November 6, 2018, at the age of 28. Acevero was sworn in on a copy of James Baldwin's 1963 book, The Fire Next Time and assumed office on January 9, 2019.[10][11] He sits on the House Appropriations Committee and is a member of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, the Latino Legislative Caucus and the Montgomery County Delegation.[12]
In December 2019, Acevero attended a rally in Gaithersburg, Maryland to support the impeachment of Donald Trump.[13]
In 2020, Delegate Acevero endorsed
In the 2022 Democratic primary, other members of the house district campaigned for another Democrat to replace Acevero,[16] who nonetheless won reelection to the ticket.[11]
Personal life
Acevero is openly gay.[1]
Political positions
Cannabis
In 2022, Acevero voted in support of
Delegate Acevero introduced his own bill HB1342, "Cannabis - Legalization and Regulation (Cannabis Legalization and Equity Act)",[19] in 2022 which would legalize "the possession and use of a certain amount of cannabis by a person of at least a certain age; providing for expungement of records, dismissal of charges, and commutation of sentences in certain cases involving cannabis-related charges; providing for a system of regulation of the sale of cannabis by the Maryland Department of Health and local jurisdictions; and providing for the taxation of the sale of cannabis in the State."[19]
Criminal justice
Although he serves on the Appropriations Committee, Acevero has primarily introduced criminal justice legislation to include police reform. He has sponsored legislation to restrict police officers' use of force, and to repeal Maryland's Law Enforcement Officer's Bill of Rights.[20]
During his first session as a delegate, Acevero introduced "Anton's Law", a bill that reformed the Maryland Public Information Act, to require transparency in investigations of complaints against law enforcement officers. The bill was named for Anton Black, a 19-year-old African-American man who died in police custody in Greensboro, Maryland.[21][22][23] In July 2020, Acevero accused local union leaders of using "strong-arm tactics" to slow down Anton's Law.[24] Gino Renne, president of Montgomery County Government Employees Organization Local 1994 (MCGEO), had expressed concern over Acevero's support of the legislation, asking him to attend a meeting where Acevero claims Renne and others pressured him to drop Anton's Law. Renne fiercely denied Acevero's accusations, calling them a "bold-face lie".[25] During the 2021 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed Anton's Law as part of the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021 and it took effect on October 1, 2021.[26]
During the 2021 legislative session, Acevero introduced legislation to prohibit school districts from contracting with local law enforcement agencies to station
Education
During the 2020 legislative session, Acevero expressed support for the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. He noted that "What we're trying to do here is change the trajectory of this state ... All of us will win when we invest in education".[28] He also sponsored the Commission on History, Culture, and Civics in Education "to make recommendations to the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education to further the discovery, interpretation, and learning of the history, culture, and civics of the United States and Maryland; and requiring the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the State Board, the Governor and the General Assembly by December 30 each year beginning in 2022."[29]
Health care
During the 2020 legislative session, Acevero and state senator
Immigration
In 2021, Acevero spoke in support of the Dignity Not Detention Act that would prevent counties from contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Delegate Acevero described the tactics of ICE as being similar to the Gestapo during World War II.[31]
Israel
During the 2024 legislative session, Acevero introduced a resolution calling on Maryland's congressional delegation to support a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war.[32]
Redistricting
In 2019, Acevero was the lone dissenting vote in the Maryland General Assembly on a motion to allow Republican legislators to introduce a bill to change the boundaries of Maryland's
In 2021, Acevero was the only Democrat in the entire Maryland General Assembly to vote against House Bill 1, the legislature's congressional redistricting plan, citing concerns of the heavy use of gerrymandering and splitting up of communities.[34] He also voted present on amendments to replace the map created by the Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission with one drawn by the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission. He called on legislators from both parties to support the For the People Act, due to its creation of state-level commissions for drawing Congressional Lines.[35] In 2022, the Maryland Congressional Map was ruled to be unconstitutional, "the first Democratic-drawn map to be struck down by a court this redistricting cycle in what the judge called a 'product of extreme partisan gerrymandering.'"[36]
Social issues
In 2019, Acevero helped write a bill regarding diaper-changing stations in men's restrooms and worked on school funding issues.[37]
In 2020, Acevero co-sponsored legislation to look into the possibility of distributing reparations to the descendants of enslaved Africans in Maryland.[38]
In May 2023, Acevero and delegate Ashanti Martinez signed onto a letter condemning the censure of two transgender legislators—Zooey Zephyr and Mauree Turner—in Montana and Oklahoma.[39]
Universal basic income
Acevero supports universal basic income, introducing legislation during the 2019 legislative session to direct 25% of the income generated from medical and recreational cannabis taxation is redirected into an investment account and the returns are then proportionally given to the citizens of Maryland.[40][41] House Bill 1089 was referred to the House Appropriations Committee but did not move out of committee.[42] Acevero called the idea as a "form of social security, and it is one of the most transformative policies that we can enact at the state and federal level to put a dent in extreme poverty," and pointed to Alaska's use of it to combat income inequality.[1]
Awards and honors
The National Black Justice Coalition named Acevero one of its "100 Black LGBTQ Emerging Leaders to Watch" in 2015.[6]
The G-Listed named Acevero one of its "Black LGBTQ Power 100 in 2018," and LGBTQ Nation named him one of its 10 favorite LGBTQ candidates of 2018.[44]
See also
- List of Democratic Socialists of America who have held office in the United States
References
- ^ a b c Wellemeyer, James (February 25, 2019). "Gabriel Acevero makes history in Md. General Assembly". Washington Blade. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ Dawson, Isaiah (June 24, 2019). "Spotlight on Maryland State Rep. Gabriel Acevero". LGBTQ Victory Fund. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ "DSA Elected Officials Support Teacher Power and Working People Everywhere". Democratic Socialists of America. March 6, 2019.
- ^ "Gabriel Acevero, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. April 21, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- Bethesda Magazine. September 11, 2018 [February 13, 2018]. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "100 Black LGBTQ/SGL Emerging Leaders to Watch". National Black Justice Coalition. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014.
- ^ "Meet the Panelists" (PDF). sandyspringmuseum.org. Sandy Spring Museum. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ Alsobrooks, Angela; Elrich, Marc; Pittman, Steuart (March 5, 2019). "We are Maryland county executives. We support the $15 minimum wage — as a floor". The Washington Post.
- Bethesda Magazine.
- ^ "Black Democratic Socialist Sworn in to the Maryland General Assembly". Hype.News (Press release). January 14, 2019.
- ^ a b "The Democratic Establishment Hates Socialist Gabriel Acevero. He Won Reelection Anyway". Jacobin. September 1, 2022. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- ^ "Delegate Gabriel Acevero". General Assembly of Maryland.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ Acevero, Gabriel [@gabrielacevero] (March 11, 2020). "I'm endorsing @BernieSanders because of his consistency. He's been a consistent fighter for working families & marginalized people. And I know he'll continue to fight for us as President. Like him, I believe a better world is possible & worth fighting for. #NotMeUs #Bernie2020" (Tweet). Annapolis, Maryland. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Twitter.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- Maryland Matters.
- ^ a b Sears, Bryan (February 25, 2022). "Maryland House approves pair of bills aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana". The Daily Record. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "HB 1342". Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ Milloy, Courtland (March 12, 2019). "The cost of making this bill on police reform law: Sacrifice". The Washington Post.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ "SB1037: Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission - Uniform Citizen Complaint Process (Anton's Law)". General Assembly of Maryland.
- ^ Scheiber, Noam (July 1, 2020). "Maryland lawmaker says a union fired him over his push for police reform". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- Maryland Matters.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ Broadwater, Luke; Wood, Pamela (March 6, 2019). "Maryland House of Delegates approves historic, expensive plan to improve public schools". The Baltimore Sun.
- ^ "Legislation HB0489". Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- Baltimore Banner. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ Stole, Bryn (December 8, 2021). "Maryland Democrats send new congressional map to Gov. Hogan". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ "Maryland judge rules new congressional map unconstitutional". NBC News. Associated Press. March 25, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ "District 39 legislators provide update on 2019 session". MontgomeryVillage.com. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (March 12, 2019). "Will Populist Economic Bills Collide With Reality?". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ "Bill Text: MD HB1089". LegiScan.
- ^ Coelho, Andre (June 19, 2019). "United States: Maryland's legislator pushing the creation of a social wealth fund for the state". Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN).
- ^ "Champions of Pride". The Advocate. May 22, 2018.
- ^ Heath, Terrance (June 24, 2018). "Here are 10 of our favorite LGBTQ candidates this year". LGBTQ Nation.